Dutse Emirate is a historical emirate council in Jigawa State, Nigeria. It traces its origins back to legends of early hunters and has been influenced by various rulers and events. The emirate's history includes connections to the Sarkin Kano, periods of Fulani ascendancy, and adaptation to colonial-era changes. The current emir of Dutse is Hameem Nuhu Sanusi.
History
Beginning According to legend, the area now called Dutse was first discovered by a hunter named Duna-Magu, who was great at hunting, especially gazelles. Because of this, he gave it the nickname "Gadawur." The settlement of Garu is believed to have existed even before Bagauda's arrival in Kano during the late 1st millennium.
Connection to Sarkin Kano The earliest written record about Dutse is in the Kano Chronicle, which mentions its defeat by the Kano ruler Abdullahi Burja around the years 1438–1452. After this defeat, Abdullahi Burja married a daughter of the Sarkin Dutse, creating a connection between the two emirates. By the early 18th century, Dutse had become a substantial town with around seventy wards enclosed within its walls. These walls protected the central area around Jambo stream and had twelve city gates, each named after the nearest ward.
Rulers Between 1732 and 1735, a powerful Fulani figure named Ada played a significant role in Dutse's history. Initially, he arrived in Dutse as a military envoy of Sarkin Kano Kumbari. However, Ada went on to defeat the ruler of Dutse and took control. His rule was short-lived as he faced opposition and fought against Kano forces. After Ada, Tsohon Mutum became the ruler of Dutse and is particularly remembered for building the Ganuwar Garu, an additional wall that fortified the Garu palace town. Later, the ascendancy of the Fulani in 1806 marked a turning point in Dutse's history.
The Fulani ascendancy in 1806 In 1806, the Fulani, led by Salihi and Musa from the Yalligawa and Jalligawa Fulani clans, took control of Dutse. They had migrated to Dutse from Birnin Gazargamo in the Kanem–Bornu Empire. Their migration was due to a more favorable political climate in Dutse, where they became political leaders and Islamic scholars, earning the trust of the local people. This marked a significant change for Dutse, which now recognized Sarkin Kano Suleman as their spiritual leader. In return, Kano granted Dutse some autonomy in local administration.
Emirs List of the emirs of Dutse or Sarkin Dutse in Hausa.
Salihi dan Awwal - C1807-1819 Musa dan Ahmadu - C1819-1840 Bello dan Musa - C1840-1849 Suleiman dan Musa - C1849-1868 Ibrahim I dan Salihi - C1868-1884 Abdulkadir I dan Salihi - C1884-1893 Salihi dan Ibrahim - C1893-1894 Ibrahim II dan Musa - C1894-1894 Abdulkadir II dan Musa - C1894-1901 Abdulkadir III dan Ibrahim - C1901-1903 Haladu dan Sulemanu - C1903-1910 Halilu dan Bello - C1910-1911 Hamida dan Ibrahim - C1912-1912 Abdullahi 1 dan Sulemanu - C1912-1919 Bello II dan Abdulkadir - C1919-1923 Suleiman II dan Nuhu - C1923-1960 Abdullahi Maikano Sulemanu - C1960-1983 Mohammadu Sunusi dan Bello - C1983-1995 Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi - C1995-2023 Hameem Nuhu Sanusi - C2023-date
Gallery pictures from the emir's palace Garu
References